Australia’s Sunshine Coast could lose its $80 million Bluefin tuna fishing fleet to New South Wales by next month.
The tuna fleet is threatening to move to Coffs Harbor unless the state government dredges the bar at the entrance to Mooloolaba Harbor.
East Coast Tuna Boat Owners Association executive director Hans Jusseit says if fishing boats have trouble getting into the harbor on their return from current fishing trips, some will leave by August.
"It could very well happen, I mean we have the fleet coming in over the next couple of weeks after being fishing for a week or so, if they come in with their boats loaded and they have difficulty with getting in or can't get in, I would anticipate some of those boats will move by the next fishing trip, which will be next month."